Application of Learned Helplesnness

An example of learned Helplessness in the real world is the training of animals. Seligmans's theory is applied in modifiying animal behavior. Animal trainers use learned helplessness on circus animals like tigers and elephants for this animals to be more suitable for control. A strong and huge animal like the elephant is capable of escaping the circus whenever it wants. Have you ever wondered why it does not escape?

It is because this elephants are trained even when thay are little. Elephants are chained to a big iron ball to prevent the elphant to escape. This feeling of helplessness grows inside the elephant. The animal will try to escape but it will fail due to the weight. The elephant will grow thinking it is uncapable of breaking the chain even though a full grown up elephant could easily break its oppresion. So the elephant is now conditioned not to escape because it has learned he is helpless against its enviroment.